Former Tottenham playmaker Gus Poyet believes Mauricio Pochettino remains ‘100 per cent’ the right man to replace Antonio Conte at Spurs but Chelsea look set to snatch the Argentine instead.
It is four years now since Pochettino lead Tottenham to the Champions League final. It almost felt closer to 40 as Alexander Isak left Hugo Lloris sprawling for the fifth time within the space of just 21 traumatic minutes at St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon; the London giants going down 6-1 at Newcastle United as the away end filtered out quicker than a primary school on fire drill day.
Cristian Stellini paid with his (interim) job in the aftermath. Sacked weeks after his long-time sparring partner Antonio Conte went the same way. Ryan Mason will now take charge for the final few games of a rather abysmal campaign.
Poyet, meanwhile, believes Tottenham could be about to miss out on the man capable of bringing the good times back to the white corner of North London.
Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino close to Chelsea job
“If you ask me a week ago; ‘Which coach is the best one for Tottenham now’? I would say Pochettino. 100 per cent,” Poyet tells talkSPORT (25 April, 9am).
According to The Telegraph, the former Argentina international is now on the verge of replacing Graham Potter at Chelsea instead. The prospect of Tottenham’s most popular manager of arguably the last 30 years working wonders across the city at a bitter rival the latest insult following a series of injuries as far as Spurs supporters are concerned.
Pochettino helped develop the likes of Luke Shaw, Dele Alli, Kyle Walker and Harry Kane during his time at Southampton and Spurs. Poyet believes a Chelsea side containing talents such as Noni Madueke, Datro Fofana, Conor Gallagher, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Enzo Fernandez, Kai Havertz and Mason Mount – all under the age of 24 – can only benefit from a coach like Pochettino.
But only if Todd Boehly and co are willing to hand him the carte blanche to – like at Tottenham – construct a team in his image.
“For Chelsea, do you want to win or to create a culture (of young players)? We need to know what the objective is for Chelsea over the next few years,” Poyet adds.
“Pochettino did terrific at Southampton with the youth, the young players. He brought in plenty at Spurs as well. So maybe that is the idea of the owner; to bring in a coach that has got a reputation of working with young players and not just to win.
“I think it is clever, in a way.”
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